Foot and Ankle Compression and Support Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A foot and ankle compression and support apparatus includes a sock member and a strap member; a flexion zone located at least partially along an uppermost portion of the sock member; the sock member including a tri-flex zone that is structured and disposed for providing compression along multiple planes at the ankle and heel portions of the wearer’s foot; a strap member attachment point located at least partially at the tri-flex zone; a strap member including a first strap member side and a second strap member side, and the first strap member side including a first hook portion and a second hook portion and the second strap member including a loop portion, wherein the first hook portion and the second hook portion of the first strap member side are each configured to attach to the loop portion of the second strap member side.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/332,542 filed Apr. 19, 2022, entitled “FOOT AND ANKLE COMPRESSION AND SUPPORT APPARATUS”, and which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to medical devices, and more particularly to a compression, stability, and support apparatus for use on an individual’s foot and ankle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Human feet and ankles generally carry and support the majority of an individual’s mass and are often subject to additional external forces during everyday life and/or during recreation or exercise. As a result, foot and ankle injuries, pain, and discomfort are common afflictions affecting many individuals. There exists the need for an apparatus to provide comfort, support, and versatility in alleviating these issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one form of this invention, there is provided a foot and ankle compression and support apparatus including a sock member and a strap member. The sock member includes a tri-flex zone and flexion zone, and the sock member is attached to the strap member at a strap member attachment point. The strap member includes a first strap member side containing a plurality of hook portions and a second strap member side containing at least one loop portion, wherein the plurality of hook portions are configured to be selectively attached to the at least one loop portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the foot and ankle compression and support apparatus;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the foot and ankle compression and support apparatus;

FIG. 3 shows a view of the foot and ankle compression and support apparatus, wherein the strap member is in an undeployed state;

FIG. 4 shows a view of the foot and ankle compression and support apparatus, wherein the strap member is in an undeployed state; and

FIG. 5 is an isolated view of a foot and ankle compression and support apparatus, illustrating a flexion zone and tri-flex zone.

Like reference numerals refer to like reference parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the several views of the drawings, the foot and ankle compression and support apparatus 100 is shown and described herein.

Referring initially to FIG. 1 , the foot and ankle compression and support apparatus 100 is designed to be worn on an individual’s foot, and it consists generally of a sock member 102 and a strap member 104.

According to one embodiment, the sock member 102 may provide coverage from a user’s toes to at least a user’s calf muscles. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the sock member 102 may extend either lower or higher than a user’s calf muscles without departing from the sprit and scope of the invention. The sock member 102 may be composed of a synthetic elastomeric material, such as elastic, nylon, polyester, spandex, neoprene, or a blend of one or more of these or similar materials. Additionally, the sock member 102 may include specific portions having a fabric composition and/or weave that is different from other portions of the sock member 102, allowing different compression or tension characteristics to be isolated at different locations on a user’s foot.

According to one embodiment, the strap member 104 may be permanently affixed or removably attached to the sock member 102. For example, and as illustrated in FIGS. 4-5 , the strap member may be attached at a position on the sock member 102 at a strap member attachment point 118 to allow the strap member 104 to contact the heel portion of a user’s foot. For example, the strap member attachment point 118 may be located at the center-back portion of a user’s heel to allow the strap member 104 to be wrapped around the foot with the strap member attachment point 118 as a starting point.

The permanent or removable attachment of the strap member 104 to the sock member 102 at the strap member attachment point 118 may be by fusing of fabric, stitching, hook and loop, or similar attachment mechanism. By having a specific strap member attachment point 118 (whether permanent or removable) on the sock member 102, the strap member 104 may be specifically positioned to provide consistent targeted support to a specific portion of the user’s foot. For example, the strap member 104 may be selectively attached to a specific portion of the sock member 102, depending on a user’s desired configuration, so that the strap member 102 will be consistently located in the same spot each time the user wears the foot and ankle compression and support apparatus 100. Similarly, the strap member attachment point 118 may be secured to the strap member 104 at the midpoint along the length of the strap member 104, so as to allow equal components of the strap member 104 to be used when being wrapped around a user’s foot.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-5 , the sock member 102 includes a flexion zone 114 located at least partially along the uppermost portion of the sock member 102. The flexion zone 114 permits the sock member 102 to accommodate various foot sizes while maintaining an appropriate amount of compression on a user’s foot.

According to one embodiment, the sock member 102 may also include a tri-flex zone 116, wherein the tri-flex zone 116 is configured to contact the heel and/or ankle portion of a user’s foot, including those portions of the foot proximal to the heel and/or ankle. The tri-flex zone 116 may be composed of a fabric weave wherein elastomeric or similarly stretchable/compressible fibers are woven in along at least three different vectors, thus providing compression along multiple planes at the ankle or heel portion of a user’s foot. It will be appreciated that the strap member attachment point 118 may be located entirely or at least partially within the tri-flex zone 116.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the strap member 104 includes a first strap member side 106 and a second strap member side 108. According to one embodiment, the first strap member side 106 may include at least two hook portions 110, wherein such hook portions are a part of a hook and loop or similar closure mechanism. The hook portions 110 may be positioned at the terminal ends of the first strap member side 108. The second strap member side may be entirely composed of the loop portion 112 of a hook and loop or similar closure mechanism, wherein the hook portions 110 of the first strap member side 106 are configured to attach to the loop portion 112 of the second strap member side 108 when a user tightens the strap member 104 when wearing the foot and ankle compression and support apparatus.

By having the second strap member side 108 composed entirely (or substantially) of a loop portion 112, a user thus has maximum flexibility for choosing the desired tension of the strap member around the foot, permitting a customized level of compression and support.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2 , the strap member 104 is shown in a wrapped configuration, providing compression and support around two axes of a user’s foot. For example, one portion of the strap member 104 may be wrapped and secured underneath a user’s foot around the lateral portion of the foot, over the superior portion of the foot, and is thus located anterior to and proximal with a user’s heel area. For example, an alternative portion of the strap member 104 may be wrapped and secured around a user’s ankle or proximal to a user’s ankle, wherein the strap member is wrapped from the strap member attachment point 118 up along the lateral portion of a user’s foot and around the ankle area of a user’s foot, wherein the hook portion 110 of the first strap member side 106 may then be attached to the loop portion 112 of the second strap member side 108, thus securing the strap member around a user’s foot.

By wrapping the strap member 104 around a specific portion of a user’s foot, tension may thus be applied along the path of the strap member 104, thereby providing support, comfort, and compression around specific portions of the user’s foot.

It will be appreciated that the strap member 104 may be secured around a user’s foot via the hook portion 110 of the first strap member side 104 being secured to the loop portion 110 of the second strap member side 108. This configuration allows the user to tighten the strap member 104 to the desired level and thus adjust the tension and/or compression at specific portions of the user’s foot.

While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this subject matter belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. For brevity and/or clarity, well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail herein.

The term “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Similarly, examples are provided herein solely for purposes of clarity and understanding and are not meant to limit the subject innovation or portion thereof in any manner.

The terms “for example” and “such as” mean “by way of example and not of limitation.” The subject matter described herein is provided by way of illustration for the purposes of teaching, suggesting, and describing, and not limiting or restricting. Combinations and alternatives to the illustrated embodiments are contemplated, described herein, and set forth in the claims.

For convenience of discussion herein, when there is more than one of a component, that component may be referred to herein either collectively or singularly by the singular reference numeral unless expressly stated otherwise or the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, components N (plural) or component N (singular) may be used unless a specific component is intended. Also, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise or the context indicates otherwise.

It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising” specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof unless explicitly stated otherwise or the context clearly requires otherwise. The terms “includes,” “has” or “having” or variations in form thereof are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprises” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

It will be understood that when a component is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another component, it can be directly connected or coupled or coupled by one or more intervening components unless expressly stated otherwise or the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, phrases such as “between X and Y” and “between about X and Y” should be interpreted to include X and Y unless expressly stated otherwise or the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Terms such as “about”, “approximately”, and “substantially” are relative terms and indicate that, although two values may not be identical, their difference is such that the apparatus or method still provides the indicated or desired result, or that the operation of a device or method is not adversely affected to the point where it cannot perform its intended purpose. As an example, and not as a limitation, if a height of “approximately X inches” is recited, a lower or higher height is still “approximately X inches” if the desired function can still be performed or the desired result can still be achieved.

While the terms vertical, horizontal, upper, lower, bottom, top, and the like may be used herein, it is to be understood that these terms are used for ease in referencing the drawing and, unless otherwise indicated or required by context, does not denote a required orientation.

The different advantages and benefits disclosed and/or provided by the implementation(s) disclosed herein may be used individually or in combination with one, some or possibly even all of the other benefits. Furthermore, not every implementation, nor every component of an implementation, is necessarily required to obtain, or necessarily required to provide, one or more of the advantages and benefits of the implementation.

Conditional language, such as, among others, “can”, “could”, “might”, or “may”, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments preferably or optionally include certain features, elements and/or steps, while some other embodiments optionally do not include those certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language indicates, in general, that those features, elements and/or step may not be required for every implementation or embodiment.

The subject matter described herein is provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the nature and scope of the subject invention. While examples of aspects of the subject invention have been provided above, it is not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for implementing the subject invention, and one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that further combinations and permutations of the subject invention are possible. Furthermore, the subject invention is not necessarily limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages which may have been noted in any part of this disclosure. Various modifications and changes may be made to the subject invention described herein without following, or departing from the spirit and scope of, the exemplary embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein. Although the subject matter presented herein has been described in language specific to components used therein, it is to be understood that the subject invention is not necessarily limited to the specific components or characteristics thereof described herein; rather, the specific components and characteristics thereof are disclosed as example forms of implementing the subject invention. Accordingly, the disclosed subject matter is intended to embrace all alterations, modifications, and variations, that fall within the scope and spirit of any claims that are written, or may be written, for the subject invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A foot and ankle compression and support apparatus comprising: a sock member and a strap member; a flexion zone located at least partially along an uppermost portion of the sock member, the flexion zone being sized and configured for permitting the sock member to accommodate various foot sizes while maintaining an appropriate amount of compression on a wearer’s foot; the sock member including a tri-flex zone that is structured and disposed for providing compression along multiple planes at the ankle and heel portions of the wearer’s foot; a strap member attachment point located at least partially at the tri-flex zone; a strap member including a first strap member side and a second strap member side, the strap member being secured to the sock member at the strap member attachment point; and the first strap member side including a first hook portion and a second hook portion and the second strap member including a loop portion, wherein the first hook portion and the second hook portion of the first strap member side are each configured to attach to the loop portion of the second strap member side.
 2. The foot and ankle compression and support apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the strap member is selectively removable from the strap member attachment point.
 3. The foot and ankle compression and support apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the strap member attachment point is secured to the strap member at the midpoint along the length of the strap member.
 4. The foot and ankle compression and support apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the first hook portion and the second hook portion are positioned at opposing terminal ends of the first strap member side.
 5. The foot and ankle compression and support apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the second strap member side is comprised substantially of the loop portion, thereby permitting the wearer to attach the first hook portion and the second hook portion of the first strap member side at a location on the loop portion of the second strap member selected by the wearer to obtain the desired tension of the strap member around the wearer’s foot, thereby permitting a customized level of compression and support.
 6. A foot and ankle compression and support apparatus comprising: a sock member and a strap member; a flexion zone located at least partially along an uppermost portion of the sock member, the flexion zone being sized and configured for permitting the sock member to accommodate various foot sizes while maintaining an appropriate amount of compression on a wearer’s foot; the sock member including a tri-flex zone that is structured and disposed for providing compression along multiple planes at the ankle and heel portions of the wearer’s foot; a strap member attachment point located at least partially at the tri-flex zone; a strap member including a first strap member side and a second strap member side, the strap member being selectively securable to the sock member at the strap member attachment point; the first strap member side including a first hook portion and a second hook portion and the second strap member including a loop portion, wherein the first hook portion and the second hook portion of the first strap member side are each configured to attach to the loop portion of the second strap member side; and the second strap member side is comprised substantially of the loop portion, thereby permitting the wearer to attach the first hook portion and the second hook portion of the first strap member side at a location on the loop portion of the second strap member selected by the wearer to obtain the desired tension of the strap member around the wearer’s foot, thereby permitting a customized level of compression and support.
 7. The foot and ankle compression and support apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the strap member attachment point is secured to the strap member at the midpoint along the length of the strap member.
 8. The foot and ankle compression and support apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the first hook portion and the second hook portion are positioned at opposing terminal ends of the first strap member side. 